"Europe is harder, America is easier" - Alperen Sengun contrasts European players' opinions on NBA vs EuroLeague

Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun shared his honest take on the differences between playing in the NBA and the EuroLeague. There have been comparisons between the two leagues as they both foster some of the top talents in the world.

Over the years, European players have said it's easier to score in the NBA than the EuroLeague. Given the obvious difference in rules, such as the absence of the defensive three-second rule in the East. One star who has said this before was Luka Doncic in March 2022.

In his appearance at "The Old Man and the Three," podcast, the Dallas Mavericks star explained that it was easier to score in the NBA. Even Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo had the same sentiment in September 2022 as he shared that there are more lanes to drive into in the EuroLeague.

However, not all European players share the same opinion. Sengun gave his honest thoughts on the contrast in playing for the two leagues.

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"Before you go to the NBA, you think, LeBron scores 50, an unknown player scores 50. You think it’s easier to score there. But when you get there, it’s not like that. I used to say the same, 'Europe is harder, America is easier.' But when you go there, you see it. Here, there are more set plays. There, it’s more one-on-one and fast break plays," Sengun said.

Sengun might be the first player to say that playing in the NBA is much more difficult. But given how he's improved since arriving in the league, the Turkish center might be adjusting well to how basketball is played in the States.

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Alperen Sengun on European coaches in the NBA

While the game is played differently because of the rules, there are other differences in the NBA and Europe. Alperen Sengun shared a detail about how coaching in America would be a difficult transition for EuroLeague coaches.

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"Two different styles. In Europe, coaches are crazy. They shout and yell," Sengun said. "In America, there is no such thing. Because the players in America are of very high quality, for example, LeBron’s coach or Curry’s coach cannot shout at them. The player would say, 'Who are you?' In the NBA, the players are stronger."

There have been a few coaches from the EuroLeague who have attempted a transition in the NBA. Right now, Darko Rajakovic of the Toronto Raptors has managed to handle the intensity of the league and earned the respect of his players.

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